Hy dave I had whipple operation on my pancreas last October I'm OK but still getting pains in my belly but try not to let it get me down my husband have been my rock by my side all the way I have scans now every 6 months to keep an eye on it for 5 years it is hard but I di think positive all the time I get that feeling when it's time for a scan l hope you are OK 

I will be doing that thank you 

Hi everyone. Just wanting to ask a question . Had stage 2 breast cancer so lumpectomy and total lymph nodes removal then radiotherapy. I know that I am lucky it was caught in time but a year down the line so tired no energy. Fear of it coming back is this normal. I feel like a freak and can't talk to my friends as they were so supportive during the last year xx

Hi Debbie, I am currently completely drained.  My son tells me that I have long Covid.  My response was that I have not had Covid.  He says it is possible to have Covid without realising it.  Back in the Covid days he felt slightly off, maybe a cold, however he dutifully did a Covid test which was positive.  So despite feeling fine he had to take time off work but luckily could work from home.  Earlier this year I had a cold and felt completely drained.  Maybe, despite negligible cough, I had had Covid and now the drained feel could be long Covid.  Have you had a bit of a cold/cough but brushed it aside thinking it was nothing?  Perhaps it was a touch of Covid and your lack of energy is now long Covid.  Plus whatever, your body has taken its toll with the cancer, operation and radiotherapy.  When I growl a friend keeps reminding me that my body has been through a lot and we are not getting younger!!!  (She is a cheeky one)  Another thought has been that I have been very involved in a lot of local organisations, maybe I need a break and just get away from it all.  So am going on a New Scientist long weekend about re-wilding and will be camping, new activities, new people.  I will try and have nearly a week internet free, maybe that will cure all!

Thank you makes me feel that I'm not alone. And I'm not a total freak. I know that I should be grateful for it being caught in time but i.think it's only now hitting me x

Debbie, one thing that those of us with cancer have is that we are not alone.  We are 50% of the population and we have been joined by royalty in the form of King Charles and Kate.  Over the last couple of weeks I have welcomed two more people whom I know to the Cancer Club.  However we do have to put over to the non-cancer 50% that every case is different, different parts of the body affected in different ways, different symptoms, different drugs, different side effects, different stages of recovery.  There is no 'Oh you have had treatment so you should be better now'.  We have to educate others.

So true xxx

So true, and only those who have travelled our journey, or a similar one, can understand even a part of it.

Thank you for this. The thing that I don’t think they talked about was the psychological effects of the cancer journey. Or just how sensitive you may become. Two years to the day since my bowel surgery and I’ve had a couple of stress episodes - where I could physically feel the effects of stress. Not sure what caused those episodes, not sure if it is definitely caused by the cancer journey I was on. But I’m pretty certain I have never experienced the physical effects of stress pre cancer.